Valve stem



VALVE STEM Filed. Deo'. l2, 1934 ATTORNEYS Patented oei. 19, i931 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE VALVE s'rEM Application December 12, 1934, Serial No. 757,189

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a valve stem such as is usedwith the inner tube of a pneumatic tire.

An object of the invention is to provide a valve stem which is so formed that the base portion 5 and the stem portion of the valve stem are separable, wherefore, tire tubes can be equipped with only the base portion which is standard for all tubes, while a stem portion of suitable length or shape can be applied'to the base portion as required.

Another object is to provide a valve stem such as specied in the above mentioned object and wherein the base portion of the valve stem is permanently connected to the tire tube,l as, for example, by being vulcanized thereto.

Another object is to provide a valve stem wherein the base portion is formed of rubber and has an outwardly extending short spud portion upon which is swivelly mounted a metallic-sleeve that acts to secure the. stem proper to the base and which will also, when the ytube and stem are mounted upon a vehicle wheel, be located in the rim opening and serve to center the stem in the opening and to protect the spud o f the base por.

and metallic connecting sleeve being vshown in connected to a. vtire tube. y

In the drawing a portion of an inner' tube of a' pneumatic Itire is indicated et In, said tube being shown in an uninated condition. The

Fig. 4 is'an elevational view of a valve stem valve stem embodying'the present invention comprises a base II, preferably in the form of a circular rubber patch-like member having a thickened central portion and a tapered portion lying outwardly of the central portion and including the periphery of the base. The patch preferably is applied to the outer surface of the tube and is vulcanized thereto, the inner at side of the patch engaging the outer surface of the tube, while at-the center of the patch on the inner side thereof there is located a projecting portion I2 of a lengthsubstantially corresponding to the thickness of the tube and extending into and lling van opening in the tube when the base portion is secured to the latter. The base II has extending from the outer side of the thickened central portion an integral spud-like portion I3 provided intermediate its ends with an annular groove I 4. v The spud I3 is relatively short in length while the base II is provided with a bore I5 extending from the inner end of the projection I2 through the base to the outer end of the spud I3. A metal connecting member or sleeve I6 is provided with a counterbore I'I that ts over the spud I3, while outwardly of the counterbore is a reduced threaded bore I8. The counterbore Il is of such size that Athe spud I3 can be received therein; while an annular rib l'projecting into the counterbore II engages in the annular groove I4 of the spud and swivelly connects the member and spud together. It is proposed that tire tubes be equipped with the base II and the member I6 that is swivelly connected to the spud I3 of the base, while the stem proper of the valve stem construction can be selected in accordance with thedemands of each installation, that is, a long or a short4 stem or a straight or curved stem may be used depending upon the type of wheel upon which the tube is mounted. The advantages of this arrangement will be apparent since it will be possible to equip the tubes with a standard form of base, while the dealers will only need y to carry a variety of stems from which the correct stein for each installation Acan be selected.

In the accompanying drawing the stem proper is indicated at 20 and is shown 'as a relatively long straight stem, it being understood, of course, that the stem 20 could be short or that it could be curved, as the case may be. The lower end of the stem 2li is provided vth a reduced tapered portion 2l having a plurality of circular outwardly extendingteeth-like ribs 22.- Just -above the reduced tapered portion 2| the stem is provided with. an enlarged externally threaded portion 23 of a size to screw into the threaded bore I8 of I il the reduced tapered portion 2l of the stem is passed through the member ii and into the bore i! in the spud I3. The stem 2l is then forced inwardly until the portion 2| is fully received within the bore i5 and the shoulder formed by the enlarged externally threaded portion 2l of the stem is in engagement with the outer end of the spud. Inasmuch as the portion 1l is tapered it will have a tight ilt within the bore Il and the annular ribs or teeth 22will dig into the mate' rial of the spud and form a tight seal therewith. In applying the stem 20 to the Abase it is understood-that the stem preferably is forced inwardly is provided with suitable wrench engaging surto cause the portion 2i to pass into the bore il by relatively rotating the stem and member `I0 so that the enlarged externally threaded portion 2l of the stem will screw into the threaded bore il o! the member which preferablyI is in position on the spud, it being noted that the member "It faces. When the stem has been fully assembled upon the bese an ein-tight seal will be perfected between the portion 2| an'd the spud. while the engagement of the shoulder at the `inner end o! =the enlarged portion ofthe stem with the outer end of the spud eilects a further seal against the escape of air except through the bore of the stem.

The construction Just described provides a simple yet elective and strong connection between the vstern and base and one wherein there is small likelihood'of air leakage occurring. The connecting member or sleeve I8 not only forms part of the connection between the stem and base, but,

as will beunderstood, said member, when the tube is mounted upon'a vehicle wheel, will extend into the rim opening and act to maintain the stem in alignment and tc protect the same against wear and vtwisting o! the stem in the rim opening. lThe valve stem constructionis also of such character that the use of the usual spreader plate for clamping the tire tube between it and the conventional stem base is eliminated which fact 'constitutes an advantage of importance.

Although a preferred embodiment ofthe invention has been illustrated and described herein, it should be understood that the invention is sus ceptible ot various modiilcations and adaptations within thesco'pe'oi' the appended claims. t

Havingthus described my invention, I claim:

1. A valve stem construction comprislnga rubberbaseadaptedtcbesecuredtoatiretubeand having an outwardly extending spud and provided with a bore extending through it and said spud,

seid spud being provided intermediate 1u ends nular groove, said connecting member being pro l vided' with a threaded bore adjacent its outer end.

a detachable tubular metal stem having a portion tapered toward the inner end of the member and tightly tting the bore in'said spu'd, and an enlarged threaded portion outwardly of said tapered portion screwed into the threaded bore of said connecting member, the inner side of the enlarged threaded portion of the stern forming a shoulder engaging the outer end oi' the spud.

2. A valve stem construction comprising a rubber base adapted to be secured to aktire tube and having an outwardly extending spud and provided with a bore extending through it and through said spud,- a connecting member arranged upon said spud, said connecting member and said spud having interlocking portions torming a swivel connection therebetween, and a detachable tubular metal stem having a portion interttin'g the bore in saidy spud and another portion engaging the outer lend of said spud and detachably secured to said connecting member.

' 3. A valve stem construction comping a rubber base adapted to be secured to a tire tube and having an outwardly extending spud and provided with a bore extending through it and saidspud, said spud being provided intermediate its ends with an annular groove, a connecting;

member having a counterboretting said spud and provided withan annular rib engaging in said annular groove, said connecting member being provided with a threaded bore adjacent its outer end,'a'detachable`tubu1arstem ,having at its 'inner end a portion ofI such size as to have tight bore engagement i`n said spud, and an enlarged threaded portion outwardly of said ilrst vnamed portion screwed into the threaded bore of said connecting member, the inner side oi'- the enlarged threaded portion ot the stem forming a shoulder engaging the outer end of the spud.

4. A valve stem construction comprising a rubberbaseadaptedtobe'securedtoatiretube and having an outwardly extending spud and provided with a bore extending throughit and said spud, a connecting member having a counterbore iltting Vsaid spud and provided with a threaded borev ad- 

